Manchester United have finally undergone a much-needed midfield rebuild.
The club spent over £150m on Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to address an area that has plagued them for some time. The centre of the pitch has been a significant weakness for them since before the McFred era under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, and perhaps goes way back to the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The club also added backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow and younger players Tynan Thompson and Cristian Orozco in much quieter deals. The highest fee the club paid for a player this summer is the £70m spent to sign Baleba from Brighton.
The biggest fee they bagged for a player leaving is the £38m paid by Napoli to sign Rasmus Hojlund permanently.
Incomings
Carlos Baleba (£70m)
Baleba was United’s biggest signing of the window. The Cameroon international gives United greater physical presence and defensive coverage in midfield. He will be tasked with providing the breaking up of play in the absence of Casemiro.
Baleba will miss the start of the campaign because of an ankle injury and is expected to return in September.
Andrey Santos (£50m)
Santos became the first major addition of the summer. The Brazilian midfielder arrived from Chelsea and provides another option at the base of midfield alongside Baleba and possibly Tielemans.
Youri Tielemans (£35m)
Tielemans brings experience and technical quality. He is a player capable of progressing the ball, with the passing to open up defences and set up teammates in more advanced areas. United needed experience and progressive passing as well as athleticism after losing Casemiro, and Tielemans provides it.
Tynan Thompson (£8m)
The young winger has been brought in alongside the senior additions as future investment. United have been recruiting players who can develop within the club rather than relying entirely on established names.
Karl Darlow (free)
Darlow joined as an experienced goalkeeper after leaving Leeds. He arrives as a backup to Senne Lammens
Cristian Orozco (undisclosed)
United also signed midfieler Cristian Orozco from Fortaleza, another younger addition to the squad. It is hoped he can develop into a highly rated first team player in coming years.
Kit Margetson (compensation)
Margetson is a 19-year-old recruited from Swansea as an investment in the club’s goalkeeping area.
Departures
Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli (£38m)
Hojlund’s joined Napoli on loan last summer after two seasons at Old Trafford. He moved permanently this summer.
Casemiro to Inter Miami (free)
Casemiro left after his contract expired at the end of last season. His exit was announced early in the year.
Jadon Sancho (free)
Sancho left United this summer as a free agent after five years at the club. He is still without a club.
Tyrell Malacia (free)
Malacia was also released after his contract ran out. He is currently without a club.
Other departures
United also moved on a sizeable number of younger players.
Radek Vitek, Toby Collyer and Tyler Fredricson joined Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and Lausanne-Sport respectively. Ethan Williams went to Peterborough United, and Ethan Ennis moved to Stockport County.
Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana both left on loan to Celta Vigo and Trabzonspor respectively. Sekou Kone also rejoined Lausanne-Sport on loan after an initial loan in January.
What the window means for Manchester United
The three additions of Baleba, Santos and Tielemans give Carrick considerably more options in the middle of the pitch.
They also represent different profiles. Baleba was brought in as ball-winning ground eater who can add steel to the centre and protect the team from transitions. He will be a valuable resource in games where United do not expect to control possession.
Santos is a deep-lying line breaker who will provide creativity from deep. Tielemans brings experience and a lot of technical quality.
Track Manchester United’s season here.
United’s spending was reported at roughly £160m, with a net spend of about £102.5m, according to the Guardian. There was no signing at the left-back position as a backup or competition for Luke Shaw, a decision that has particularly irked many supporters. There was also no reinforcement of the centre-forward position, with United keeping Joshua Zirkzee and not making any moves for Ollie Watkins or Jean-Philippe Mateta, whom they had made inquiries about.
It means United will be counting on their midfield investment to work this season. The club are playing in the Champions League this season, which will place some demands on the squad, but they can at least call upon the services of Baleba, Santos and Tielemans in addition to Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount.
